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On Sunday, the Alabama Sports Writers Association announced its selections to the all-state boys and girls basketball teams, and five student-athletes from four schools in our coverage area earned spots on those teams. 

When our student-athletes earn recognition at the state level for their achievements in the sports they play, it’s a significant moment that reflects well on the individuals, the players around them who played a supporting role in their successes and the coaches who motivated and led these players to glory.

Unfortunately, there’s always someone out there who will come along and try to steal the spotlight, even though he had an opportunity to have his players recognized had he not let his ego get in the way and followed a simple process.

Southside principal and girls basketball coach Cedric Brown decided to express his discontent in a post Thursday on Facebook.

“I’ll say this and go back into hiding …Clearly basketball wasn’t covered in the Black Belt at all this season! Congrats to all that made it and big ups to those that were snubbed!”

Mr. Brown, do you realize two players from the boys basketball team at your school made the all-state squad?

Maybe you should ask Kelvin Lett, the boys coach, how that process works given his players got the recognition they rightly deserved. He went to bat for his players and sent James Jones, The Selma Times-Journal  managing editor, the relevant statistics supporting his nominations.

I’m sure the other coaches whose players were selected went through that same process. I also know several attempts were made by James both via phone and Facebook post to reach out to all our coaches for all-state nominations.  No one’s playing favorites here, and this process is not rocket science. If you don’t nominate your players and provide your statistics, then how is anyone here supposed to lobby on your players’ behalf to the ASWA?

I hope you realize how incredibly petty and unbecoming your social media tantrums are starting to sound. As a person charged with being a good example to both a group of talented young athletes and an entire student body, you should be above such behavior.

Your team had a season worthy of praise, but your self-inflicted actions continue to mar any of the good. That direct message you sent to James Friday morning isn’t a good look, either.

You snubbed yourself and your team.